"Wh-what the heck, Asanagi-chan? That's surprisingly mean of you. If you were going to give your answer today, you could've at least told me."
"Eh? Um… I'm pretty sure I did, Nakamura-san?"
"…Huh?"
Umi tilted her head with a blank expression, and Nakamura-san's face froze.
"…For real?"
"For real."
"When?"
"I think it was before morning homeroom… Ryouko-san and Miku-chan were nearby, so maybe you should ask them?"
"…Um,"
Nakamura-san started fiddling with her phone in the corner of the student council room, but she was acting strangely unlike her usual self. She was eccentric, but I'd always thought of her as unflappable and courageous, a stranger to this kind of tension.
"──Ryouko, Ryouko! I'm in the student council room right now, and I ran into Asanagi-chan… Eh? Oh, I see, right. Sorry for calling you for nothing."
Her confirmation seemingly complete, Nakamura-san's head slowly turned toward us.
"…My apologies, I was mistaken."
"Yes, very good… Well, looking back, I did think you were acting strange all morning, Nakamura-san. You spent the whole day staring blankly out the window, and it was hard to tell if you were listening to us or not."
"Ugh… Well, you know, even I, the very image of perfect health, have one of those days about once a year… or, um, right, it's that time of the──ah, no, I'm just kidding."
She seemed to be trying to get back to her usual self, but that was just making the situation worse. Even with her head down, I could clearly see her flushed cheeks as she kept glancing nervously at the male student next to her──Takizawa-kun.
I didn't know the specifics of their relationship yet, but it was safe to assume that one of the reasons for Nakamura-san's odd behavior was this rumored male student.
"As the one who scouted you, I'm delighted that you're volunteering to become the student council president, but… would you mind explaining the situation first, Mr. Vice President?"
Tomoo-senpai was smiling, but since it was originally her job to drag Nakamura-san into this room, she probably had mixed feelings as the president. As if sensing the intent behind her words, Takizawa-kun straightened his posture and immediately bowed his head with a serious expression.
"Yes… First of all, I apologize for contacting Mio-senp… Nakamura-san without a word to you, President. I told myself that I should leave the matter of the new student council president to you and focus on my own duties… but, well, I was just so happy to see Nakamura-san again after so long that I couldn't help myself…"
"You can call me Mio-senpai, Souji. Everyone here has probably figured it out by now, so there's no point in hiding it."
"R-right. My apologies, Mio-senpai."
"Ahaha. You haven't changed much, still apologizing more than you need to. Even though you've gotten so tall I barely recognize you and turned into such a handsome guy it makes my knees weak. I never thought you'd enroll in our high school, though. You could've aimed for a much better school."
"This one was the closest to my house. Plus, you're here, senpai."
"Calling me an afterthought, you've gotten bold. You could've told me you'd enrolled."
"I'm sorry for keeping it a secret. But I wanted to surprise you, senpai, so I just…"
"Oh my, the little pipsqueak from my first year of middle school has become a full-fledged cool kid. I'm both sad and lonely."
"My appearance may have changed, but I don't think my personality has changed that much."
Judging from their exchange, they probably knew each other from before, which would make them senpai and kouhai from middle school.
…But they seemed a bit too close for that.
"Sorry to interrupt your trip down memory lane, but shall we get back to the main topic? Nakamura Mio-san, just to be sure, am I correct in understanding that you'll accept the offer to become the new student council president?"
"Yes. To be honest, I'm still not that into it… but if the role has to go to someone, it might as well be me, Nakamura, the undisputed number one in our grade academically, who proudly got a perfect score on all subjects in the recent final exams (or so I plan). Oh, of course, I could have left it to the other candidate, Asanagi-chan, but unfortunately, her summer schedule is completely filled with him. And no, I don't mean that in a dirty way, of course. Strictly in a wholesome sense."
"What else could there be besides wholesome…"
I decided to ignore Nakamura-san's unnecessary, borderline lewd comment. Having regained her composure, her words flowed more smoothly than ever. I'd heard from Umi that Nakamura-san calls herself 'Nakamura' instead of 'I' when she's in a particularly good mood.
"Ahaha, that's the Mio-senpai I know… I'm so happy."
Takizawa-kun, too, smiled nostalgically at the sight of her. Nevertheless, Nakamura-san was undeniably a character with a strong personality, and the reactions of the other student council members besides Takizawa-kun varied. At any rate, the student council was properly staffed, and Tomoo-senpai could focus on her exams without any worries.
"…Umi, our business here is done. Shall we go?"
"Ah, yeah. Well then, Tomoo-senpai, we'll be going now. We're sorry we couldn't be of more help, but we'll be cheering for you from the sidelines."
"Thank you, Asanagi-san. And you too, Maehara-kun. Please continue to get along with my brother."
"Yes, of course."
After saying our goodbyes to Tomoo-senpai and the other student council members, we stood up. In the end, I never got to properly thank Tomoo-senpai, but I'll think about whether I can repay her on another occasion—with Nozomu's full cooperation, of course.
"Asanagi-chan, enjoy your summer vacation with Maehara-shi to the fullest, starting next week."
"Yeah. Thank you, Nakamura-san. Let me know if you need anything. I'll help out as much as I can, along with everyone else."
"Thanks. Well, with me and Souji here, I doubt there'll be any problems."
"You haven't changed a bit, Mio-senpai… This is actually our first time doing student council activities, you know."
"Ahaha… Well, we'll cross that bridge when we come to it."
Listening to their exchange, I had a slightly uneasy feeling about the upcoming sports festival… but their practical skills were probably fine, and with the support of Tomoo-senpai and the other former student council members, it would probably be okay.
So, Umi and I will just keep clearing the hurdles in front of us, one by one.
…And with that, our next matter of business is one of our 'friends' who messed up on the recent final exams.
After school on the weekend, with only the closing ceremony left after the three-day weekend. Normally, this would be the time for Umi and me to relax at home, just the two of us, but today we were gathered around a table at a family restaurant near our high school's closest station.
Me, Umi, Amami-san, Nitta-san, and today, for the first time in a while, Nozomu was with us too. We were supposed to be discussing what the five of us would do for the upcoming summer vacation… or so I thought.
"Ugh… everyone, I'm so sorry for being such an idiot…"
The restaurant was bustling with students from our school, but with the mood-maker Amami-san looking dejected, the atmosphere at our table was a bit gloomy. The cause was the Japanese (Modern and Classical) and English test papers spread out on the table. They were from the recent final exams, and next to the name 'Amami Yuu,' '38 points' and '39 points' were written in red pen.
At our school, anything below 40 points is a failing grade… which means Amami-san had unfortunately failed two subjects.
"C-come on, Yuu-chin, don't be so down. I heard this year's finals were so difficult that the average was way lower than usual, so maybe they'll be lenient and let you off without supplementary lessons. Especially for those two."
"But Nina-chi and Seki-kun still managed to avoid failing… I'm sorry, Maki-kun, even though you went out of your way to teach me."
"No, if anything, I'm the one who should be sorry."
Amami-san's grades this time weren't actually that bad on average. She did well in the science and math subjects that Umi taught her, even when everyone else struggled, and she also got high scores in art, music, and health and physical education. She'd studied seriously in her own way during our last study session, and I honestly thought Nozomu and Nitta-san were more likely to fail. I was sure I'd taught her the same way I always do, but I feel responsible for her grades in the humanities, which I was in charge of.
Maybe my teaching method was bad this time.
"Setting aside whose fault it is, it just means your summer vacation is on hold for a little while longer, Yuu… So, when are the supplementary lessons for Japanese and English?"
"The supplementary lesson for Japanese is in the afternoon after the closing ceremony, and the retest is the first period of the next day… while the English supplementary class is right after the Japanese one, with the retest in the afternoon of that day. If I get over 60 points on that test, I can go home… or so my homeroom teacher, Miki-chan, said."
"You mean Yagisawa-sensei, right?"
"Yes. That's right…"
I'd known this from the beginning, but at our school, students who fail the first semester's final exams are required to take supplementary lessons for each subject from the start of summer vacation until around the end of July. I heard from Nozomu, who apparently took them last year, that if you get the required score (60 points this time) on the retest after the lessons, you're fine, but if you don't, you're stuck in a loop of 'class → test → class → test' until you pass, and in some cases, it can carry over into August. It goes without saying for the students, but from the teachers' perspective as well, they must want to get it over with in one go.
"Well, from my experience last year, the teachers were also saying 'this is honestly a pain,' so I think you'll be fine as long as you pay attention."
"Pay attention…"
"As long as you listen… huh."
"Aah! Why are you two looking at me like that, Umi and Maki-kun!?"
As the ones who see her up close the most, we know firsthand that Amami-san's dislike for studying is, to put it bluntly, ingrained. Even during our last study session, she would doze off if we didn't keep a close eye on her. Would it really be possible for her to 'concentrate' and 'listen carefully to the teacher' for a 'whole day' of supplementary lessons? I heard there will be a lot of students participating in the supplementary lessons this year, so it would probably be difficult for them to pay attention only to Amami-san.
Considering that practice and preparations for the sports festival will begin in earnest in August, July is the only time when there are no plans and we can schedule things freely. We could rest and recover on our own, or go to places we don't usually visit, like the beach or the pool, with like-minded friends or a beloved partner.
To be frank, this supplementary lesson business has nothing to do with me directly. Even if Amami-san has to take them, Umi's and my plans won't change one bit. We just have to enjoy our summer as we'd planned.
But Amami-san is an important friend to me, and for Umi, she's her one and only best friend. Amami-san was also looking forward to spending summer vacation with Umi and the rest of us, and she'd worked hard studying for the exams for that reason. If things go smoothly, it'll be over in just two days, but while Amami-san is at school, working hard and facing the blackboard, can we really just dismiss it as 'none of our business'?
Would two softies like Umi and me, who are two of a kind, really be able to enjoy our time alone?
The answer is probably no.
Spending time with all our friends, and on top of that, being a lovey-dovey couple with the person I love without a care in the world—that would be ideal for both me and Umi.
So, if there's a good way to do that…
"For now, I guess Yuu-chin just has to do her best, right? It'd be great if the four of us could be by her side, but… oh, how about we sneak in and make sure Yuu-chin doesn't fall asleep?"
"You're gonna participate even though you don't have to? Nitta, what kind of joke is that?"
"I was just saying. Seki, that's why you're not popular with girls."
"Ah, shut up, shut up."
The school building is open even during summer vacation, so just accompanying Amami-san to school probably wouldn't be a problem, but joining her in class would be unrealistic considering the inconvenience to the other students and the teachers──
No, is that really true?
"Hey, Nozomu, I want to confirm something based on your experience from last year."
"Yeah, what's up?"
"How many people were in the supplementary classes?"
"Let's see, I took math, and there were about ten to fifteen people. Of course, some of them were probably skipping or putting it off because of club activities."
"…So there were quite a few empty seats."
"…"
The four of them froze at my muttered words. They must have sensed it. Maki (Maehara) is about to say something weird again… the four who know me well must have realized.
…That's right.
"Maki, why don't you let us hear it?"
"Yeah. I know this is a long shot, but… I was wondering if we could join the supplementary lessons too. Depending on the number of students, I thought it might be possible considering the classroom's capacity."
Our high school has about thirty students per class in each grade. If math, which tends to have a lot of students taking supplementary lessons each year, had ten to fifteen, then the humanities subjects would probably have less than twenty, even with a generous estimate. There are probably some empty seats. Four people should be fine. I have my own part-time job shifts during summer vacation, but I can change them for a day or two.
"I knew you'd say that. It's very you… Well, Japanese aside, Yagisawa-sensei might at least hear you out."
"Eh, are you serious, Asanagi…? Just so you know, I'm out. I worked hard studying to avoid supplementary lessons during summer vacation, so it would be pointless if I ended up participating. What about you, Seki?"
"I have club activities… but if Maki wants to do it, I'll help you convince them. The Japanese teacher just so happens to be the advisor for our baseball club."
"…If it's just that much, I'll help too."
If Nozomu is absent for club activities and Nitta-san doesn't participate, then the number of participants in the supplementary lessons will be further reduced to just me and Umi. The teachers who hear our story will probably think, what on earth are these top students (and Umi got the 3rd highest grade in our year this time) thinking?
But that's just the kind of thing I, Maehara Maki, and the girl who always stays by my side is Asanagi Umi would do.
Once again, I'm always grateful to Umi.
"So, Yuu, it seems like we've gotten carried away and decided for you, but is that okay? If you're fine without us doing anything extra, we'll go on summer vacation as planned tomorrow──"
"N-no, no! P-please, Umi, take the supplementary lessons with me. Maki-kun, too, it'll be fun with the three of us, I'm sure of it."
"Well, I don't think supplementary lessons are supposed to be fun…"
That said, a student's main duty is to study, so it might not be a bad idea to participate as a review of what we've learned so far. Even if we end up taking the retest with Amami-san, Umi and I should be able to get near-perfect scores even without studying, which means we can focus on helping Amami-san together. Of course, we can't let our guard down.
I'm aware that I'm doing something strange, but I guess it's okay once in a while.
I'm sure this will become a good memory too.
"Ehehe, with my two teachers here, the supplementary lessons will be a piece of cake. Now that that's settled, I have to contact Sanae-chan and Manaka-chan right away. Umi, we can hang out with them this year, right?"
"Sanae and Manaka have their summer tournament, so it depends on their schedule. But if we can, I'd love to visit their villa again. It's a private beach, so we can make as much noise as we want and swim without worrying."
"And we can do fireworks too… Fufu, now that I think about it, I'm getting more and more excited. Hey, everyone else is coming too, right? Nina-chi, and you two, Maki-kun and Seki-kun."
"Eh, Yuu-chin, are you sure? I know Nitori-san and the others from practicing with them for the class match, but we're basically outsiders."
"It's fine! I contacted them about summer vacation a while ago, and they said it's no problem if a few more people come. Their maids will be chaperoning us, so you don't have to worry about that either."
"Eh, for real?… As expected of rich girls."
Words like 'maids,' 'villa,' and 'private beach' are hard for a commoner like me to imagine, but if we can enjoy swimming without worrying about the crowds, then that's for the best. And I especially like the part where I don't have to expose my precious girlfriend's swimsuit-clad figure to the eyes of many strangers. Nozomu will be there as another guy, but his gaze will surely be fixed in a different direction.
…Just like now.
"…Hey, Maki."
"Nozomu?"
"Maki, Maki, thank you, seriously, thank you. I'll definitely repay this debt someday."
"I have no idea what you're talking about, but well, you're free to do as you please… Um, it hurts when you squeeze my hand so tight."
He's free to do as he pleases, but I hope that I, as his friend, can be a proper break so that he doesn't go on a rampage and confess to Amami-san in the heat of the moment like he did last winter.
Anyway, the long-awaited summer vacation starts next week.
The long-awaited summer… for me, it was the first summer I'd ever felt that way about.
The first semester's closing ceremony proceeded without any particular problems, starting with the principal's address, followed by awards for the clubs that achieved good results in the summer tournaments, and greetings that also served as a statement of determination from the clubs that will be participating in major tournaments from now on.
"──Summer vacation starts tomorrow, but please remember that you are still a student of our school even during the holidays, and try to act with moderation. The practice for the sports festival will begin soon, so please take care not to get injured or sick."
On the stage, Tomoo-senpai, who is stepping down from her role as student council president as of today, is giving a speech to us general students, which also serves as a reminder of the precautions to take during the long vacation. And, a little distance away from her, are Nakamura-san and Takizawa-kun, waiting for their turn with nervous expressions.
Of the new student council that will be officially inaugurated in September, only the president and vice president, will be introduced early at today's closing ceremony──
"──And with that, I conclude my speech as the 'former' student council president. Next, I would like to have the two who will be taking over our work from us, the old student council, give a brief self-introduction… President, Vice President, the rest is up to you."
Nodding almost simultaneously, the new student council president, Nakamura-san, first went up on stage.
"Hey Umi, do you think Nakamura-san will be okay?… I hope she doesn't make a weird dirty joke out of the blue and make the whole place cringe…"
"She's nervous, so she'll probably be fine, right? Takizawa-kun is next to her, too."
Umi and I, who happened to be standing next to each other, watched over Nakamura-san's first job. The fact that we feel more at ease when she's nervous is very Nakamura-san-like… Ignoring us, Nakamura-san cleared her throat and opened her mouth in front of the microphone.
"Hello everyone. I'm Nakamura Mio from class 2-11, and I will be taking over as president from President Seki. This is my first time being involved in after council activities, but, well, I plan to do my best without being too uptight. For starters, let's start by changing the timing of the sports festival… I probably shouldn't be saying this in front of the teachers, but sacrificing our precious summer vacation in the heat is clearly cr… oops, my apologies, my tongue slipped."
Since everyone felt the same way about the sports festival, voices of agreement rose from the students who were listening. Even while being nervous, she firmly impressed her character on everyone. Seeing this side of her, I suppose that's to be expected from the top-scoring student in the grade. Of course, she must have practiced properly in private.
"──And with that brief message, I conclude my speech. Vice President, it's all yours."
Amidst scattered applause, the vice president, Takizawa-kun, stood in front of everyone, replacing the president… and at that moment, a murmur arose from a portion of the students, mainly the girls.
"Hey, that kid's a first-year, right? Isn't he kinda hot?"
"Yeah, he's amazing. Huh? Is he a celebrity or something?"
"He's tall, and his face is just too sweet…"
The upperclassmen, who had been looking down and barely listening during Nakamura-san's speech, were now all fixated on Takizawa-kun. Takizawa-kun, who was already quite a hot topic among the first-year girls, will now probably be known by almost the entire student body (※mainly the female students).
Curiosity piqued, I checked on Nitta-san, who was standing in the line for class 7. With a slender silhouette, tall stature, a refreshing aura, and needless to say, a well-proportioned face, he had all of Nitta-san's preferences. In that case, naturally, her reaction was just as I had expected.
"────"
"…Nina's mouth is moving a lot."
"Yeah. I don't know if she realizes it herself, but her face is redder than I've ever seen it before."
Judging by the way she was staring at Takizawa-kun with an enchanted expression I'd never seen before, she was probably doing a victory pose in her mind, thinking, 'I've finally found him!'
However, considering Takizawa-kun's words and actions so far… it seems that spring will be a long way off for Nitta-san.
On the stage, Takizawa-kun's speech continued, but I wonder how many people were actually listening to it. Takizawa-kun himself is enthusiastic about student council activities, and even now, as a first-year, he is firmly appealing his motivation to the entire student body. It may be unavoidable that his easy-to-understand good looks attract attention, but it's a shame that this will make him more susceptible to jealousy from some people.
As Umi and I listened seriously, determined to at least listen to his speech properly, I noticed that our eyes met with Takizawa-kun's.
(That was great, Takizawa-kun.)
I mouthed those words to Takizawa-kun. My voice wouldn't reach him, but I hoped to convey even a little of my feelings through my expression and gestures. Of course, I could also tell him directly after the closing ceremony. Standing out in a place like this isn't necessarily a bad thing, but… it's personally painful when what you really want people to hear doesn't get through because of it.
Above all, I feel sorry for Takizawa-kun.
At the side of the stage, one of the teachers, unable to bear the students' behavior any longer, gave a sharp warning, and the gymnasium finally began to quiet down.
"──It's only been a few months since I enrolled, but I will do my best in cooperation with President Nakamura, the other student council members, and everyone on the various committees, so for now, I would appreciate it if you would watch over us with warm eyes."
Takizawa-kun's speech ended, and now each committee began making their announcements, but some people seem to still be talking about Takizawa-kun, and both Umi and I looked at each other and frowned. I've experienced this pattern with Amami-san's case, and even if I could predict to some extent that this would happen, it still doesn't feel very good.
Curious, I looked at Amami-san, who should have been listening a little ahead of us, and,
"Fwaah… I'm hungry, Nagisa-chan, food…"
"Huh? There ain't any. …Oi, Yamashita, you do something about her."
"Eh, me~? Geez, you're hopeless… Here, Amami-san, it's almost over, so let's hang in there, okay~"
Perhaps because she's not good with the quiet atmosphere unique to the closing ceremony, she was swaying her head erratically, supported by Arae-san in front of her and Yamashita-san right behind her. She was probably dozing off comfortably. She was her usual carefree self.
After standing, sitting, and finally singing the school song in the gymnasium for about an hour. We were finally freed from the ordeal, we returned to our respective classrooms. All that's left is the short homeroom in each class, and when that's over, summer vacation, a time that can be called invincible for students, will begin.
"──Alright, everyone take your seats~ I know you're all eager to start your summer vacation, but there are still some announcements about the sports festival, so just bear with me for a little longer."
The printout handed out by Yagisawa-sensei outlined the preparations for the sports festival, which will begin in August. The practice schedule was mostly as I expected, but what caught my eye first was the team assignments.
(Team Assignments – 2nd Year)
Red Team… Class 4, Class 5
White Team… Class 2, Class 3, Class 8
Yellow Team… Class 1, Class 6, Class 9
Blue Team… Class 7, Class 10, Class 11
"──Ah, yes! I'm with Umi!"
Almost at the same time as I confirmed it, Amami-san's voice rose. It's embarrassing, so I don't express my emotions as directly as Amami-san, but I'm just as happy as she is, enough to do a small victory pose inside my desk. And then I realized a little later that I'm also in the same team as Nitta-san. It's a shame that I'm separated from Nozomu in class 4, but since each team had a maximum of three classes per grade, there's nothing that can be done about it.
"Oh, right, now that the teams are decided, we also need to choose the members for the cheering squad for the cheering competition… Anyone interested, regardless of gender? This is strictly voluntary, and there's no particular requirement for each grade to have a member…"
"Yes! Then, we'll do it! With Nagisa-chan!"
"Huh? Oi, Amami, don't just decide things on your own. I haven't said anything about 'doing it' yet."
"Eh? But you said, 'I'm busy anyway, so I honestly don't care either way'."
"Th-that was because you were being persistent… Oi, Yamashita."
"I think the long cheering squad jackets would look good on both of you, so isn't it fine? Especially Arae-san, you'd probably be super popular. Oh, I'm too short, so I'll pass."
Perhaps because she was happy to be on the same team as Umi for the sports festival, Amami-san's hand shot up first this time. And Arae-san was once again dragged into it, but she didn't seem to be strongly refusing, so it would be fine to leave the follow-up to Yamashita-san.
"Are you two sure? The cheering squad is positioned as just one of the events, so participation in other events is allowed, but… I hear the practice is pretty tough."
"It'll probably be fine. I'm not good at studying, but I love moving my body like this. That should be a piece of cake for you too, Nagisa-chan, right? Right?"
"…What are you, trying to provoke me?"
"Not really~? But if you're not good at it, Nagisa-chan, I was thinking maybe I could teach you. Oh, if you're worried about that, maybe you should decline this time? I want to do my best with you, Nagisa-chan, but I don't want to force you."
"…You're on."
Arae-san, who fell for Amami-san's textbook provocation, wrote down both their names, 'Arae, Amami', on the blackboard. Arae-san, who is usually languid and basically gives everyone, boys and girls alike, the cold shoulder (+ a glare), quickly loses her cool and lashes out whenever Amami-san is involved.
Watching from the sidelines, it's nerve-wracking to think about when they might start fighting again, but that's probably the relationship that feels right for them. Even if the atmosphere sometimes gets tense, it's not like they're at each other's throats. They seem to properly acknowledge each other… I think this is one form of a relationship.
Since things seemed to be going smoothly, unlike the other day, I sent a message to Umi as usual.
(Maehara) Umi
(Asanagi) Yeah
(Asanagi) We're in the same team. Let's do our best.
(Maehara) Well, as much as the average person.
(Asanagi) Nakamura-san said the final event will be decided by the student council later, but which event will you participate in? The three-legged race, maybe? There's a mixed pair event too, right, probably.
(Maehara) Probably. Oh, by the way, what about your class's cheer squad, Umi? In my class, Amami-san and Arae-san are all fired up.
(Asanagi) I see. It was probably something like Yuu provoking Arae-san, right?
(Maehara) You guessed it.
(Asanagi) Fufu, I knew it.
(Asanagi) I'm in the advanced class, so the motivation is so-so, but it would be bad not to have anyone participate, so Ryouko-san said she'd do it.
(Maehara) Hayakawa-san, huh. That makes sense.
(Maehara) The standard events like tug-of-war and relay are probably decided, so let's decide what to do later.
(Asanagi) …The two of us?
(Maehara) No, everyone.
(Asanagi) …The two of us?
(Maehara) Do I have to answer that?
(Maehara) Well, if I can be alone with you, Umi, I'd be happier with that.
(Asanagi) Ehehe
(Maehara) My girlfriend is such a tease.
(Maehara) Well, before that, we have supplementary lessons.
(Asanagi) That's right. It's for Yuu's sake, but we decided to do it ourselves, so we have to take that seriously too.
For most of the students, summer vacation starts now, but for us, we have the Japanese supplementary lesson waiting for us right after this. By the way, about the supplementary lessons, we asked the Japanese teacher and the English teacher, Yagisawa-sensei, for permission to participate when we arrived at school early in the morning, and they readily agreed, but I'll secretly add here that it wasn't just the two teachers we asked, but almost every teacher in the staff room looked at us strangely.
…Well, if I were in their shoes, I'd be confused too, like, 'what's with these guys…'
By the time I finished exchanging messages with Umi, it seemed that everything we needed to do for the time being was done. Finally, after a reminder from the teacher to 'not get too carried away,' our classmates, freed from school at last, left the classroom with bright expressions, each trying to be the first out.
"Maki-kun."
"Amami-san… Um, are we going to class 7 now?"
"Yeah. I'm sorry, you two have to come with me because of me."
"Don't worry about it. As long as I'm with Umi, it doesn't really matter whether we're playing or studying."
"I see. Fufu, you two are as lovey-dovey as ever… Watching you, Maki-kun and the others, makes me want to do that kind of thing too. I'm jealous of how close you are, or… is that weird?"
"No, I think it's fine. It's normal."
"Thanks, Maki-kun. That said, the other person is a completely different story, though."
Amami-san is a high school student just like everyone else, so it's natural for her to have those kinds of feelings. Especially since Amami-san is the one who watched over us as we became a couple and our relationship deepened as a lovey-dovey couple from up close. Amami-san, who has been with Umi for a long time, must know well how happy and gentle Umi has been since she got a boyfriend, me, so it's not a bad thing for her to admire that and think, 'I want to be like that too…'
Of course, the prerequisite for that is finding someone she likes first.
After some small talk, we left the classroom and went to class 11 to meet up with Umi. It seemed that their short homeroom had already ended, and like our class, it was almost empty.
"Umi, I'm here to pick you up."
"Hmph, good work… Just kidding, I'm sorry, Maki. You've been coming here all the time recently."
"It's fine. I can tell you're bus just by looking at Nakamura-san right behind you."
"Ahaha, you can tell, huh… So, Nakamura-san? We have to go to supplementary lessons soon, so it would be great if you could let go of my uniform…"
"Ugh… You guys are pretty weird, participating in supplementary lessons you don't even need to… I don't mind you going to the lessons, but can't you at least leave one of Asanagi-chan's right arms behind?"
"I don't think that would make any sense…"
While most of the students are in a festive summer vacation mood, only Nakamura-san is sitting at her desk with a tired expression. The reason is obvious: student council work. Nakamura-san, who just took over the position of student council president from Tomoo-senpai the other day, seems to have lost all her initial vigor and is already overwhelmed by the work.
"Kuh, to think that I, of all people, would so desperately wish for 'an extra pair of hands'… I knew they were running things with the bare minimum number of people, but there's so much to do that my head's about to explode."
It's hard for us regular students to see, but behind the scenes, preparations for various events, large and small, including the upcoming sports festival, are underway. If we follow last year's example, it would be the cultural festival followed by a Christmas party, but Tomoo-senpai and the other former student council members must have been working on them simultaneously, including exchanges with other schools, discussions about performances, and booking venues. Even for events that end in a single day for students who have no involvement in the student council, the backstage preparations have been going on for days, and in some cases, months in advance.
In the case of our high school, I hear that most of the annual events are led by the student council… so the student council room must be buried under a mountain of documents right now. The other members besides Nakamura-san must also be surprised at the workload of the former members, Tomoo-senpai and the others.
"Damn it, maybe I shouldn't have so casually said 'I'll be the president'… If that were the case, I'd be at home right now, eating ice cream and lazing around watching TV… no, that's not exactly what a high school girl should be doing either, I guess."
"Then you should have just honestly refused like I did… You're not really that interested in student council work, are you?"
"…Yeah. Oh, and this is a secret between the four of us here."
Nakamura-san, who seemed full of motivation (or so it appeared) in the student council room the other day, doesn't seem to be finding it that rewarding or fun so far. She probably knows that once she's declared in front of everyone that she'll do it, she can't just throw it away so easily unless there are unavoidable circumstances, but then why did Nakamura-san decide to become the student council president anyway?
"Oh, hey, hey, Nakamura-san, I just saw him for the first time today, but, um, the new vice president, Takizawa-kun? Was it? He was a really cool guy. After the closing ceremony, Nina-chi's… um, my friend looked more excited than ever before."
"Oh, I know about Nitta-chan, so Nina-chi is fine… Come to think of it, she did openly declare that she's a die-hard sucker for good looks. Our Souji is definitely a direct hit."
I was half-ignoring it, but actually, our usual group chat of five was also quite lively after the closing ceremony (mainly Nitta-san). Recently, she hadn't been as desperate to find a boyfriend as before, and I personally had a calmer impression of her, but the appearance of a prodigy who met Nitta-san's high standards seems to have rekindled her once-forgotten passion for romance.
"I can introduce you to him if you'd like. He can be a bit clingy, so he might be a better match for someone a little older than his classmates."
"Eh? Really? I'm not really friends with the kouhai, let alone boys, so I'd be happy if we could get along. Nina-chi would probably be super happy too."
"Got it. Then, I'll talk to him about it today, and if your schedules match up, you can hang out on a day off. If we go as a large group including Maehara-shi and Asanagi-chan, I don't think he'll refuse."
Umi and I watched as the conversation progressed smoothly, but is Nakamura-san really okay with this? Of course, if this leads to a connection with Takizawa-kun, I should personally welcome it. Making new male friends other than Nozomu was a secret goal of mine, and I'm sure he would get along with me regardless of our senpai-kouhai relationship.
And with Amami-san and Nitta-san too.
However, she must also want to spend more time with her precious kouhai, Takizawa-kun.
"…Ah! Maki, Yuu, it's almost time for supplementary lessons, so we have to go. It'd be a real shame to be late on the very first day of supplementary lessons."
"Eh? Oh, you're right. Sorry, Nakamura-san. We'd love to help you if we could…"
"Oh, Amami-chan, are you sure? Social courtesies are a no-no for me right now. If you show me even the slightest opening, I'm the kind of woman who will drag you into the pit in an instant."
"Hey, hey, you're the new student council president, don't say such dangerous things… If things get really bad, Maki and I will listen to you, so just hang in there a little longer."
"Alright. Then, if things get chaotic, I'm counting on you. And you too, Maehara-shi, who was so naturally included in the headcount."
"Ahaha… Well, I'm indebted to you, Nakamura-san."
At this rate, I might have to make a guest appearance in student council work from time to time. This means I have to enjoy July to the fullest even more.
Especially my alone time with Umi.
The day after the closing ceremony, the first day of summer vacation. Most students are probably already enjoying their long vacation, but as for us, we woke up early as usual, went to school, and are taking supplementary lessons in a different classroom than usual. Today, the second day of supplementary lessons, we have the Japanese retest right after this, followed by the English supplementary lesson and retest.
If we pass the retest without any problems, then we (or rather, Amami-san) will officially start our summer vacation. We've made our plans assuming we'll pass the retest on the first try, so we have to get Amami-san to pass no matter what.
"Nn, nn~…"
"Yuu, don't fall asleep. Hang in there. You're going to pass the retest and go to the beach with all of us, right? Sanae and Manaka are looking forward to it too."
"Go for it, Amami-san."
"Nn, nn… I'll… do my best…"
With Umi in front of Amami-san and me behind her, we supported Amami-san as she struggled against classical Japanese and sleepiness. I was so focused on supporting her that I barely paid attention to the teacher, but the scope of the retest is exactly the same as the final exam, so it's not a big deal for us.
The supplementary lesson that started first thing in the morning is over, and it's finally time for the retest.
(…Yeah, Amami-san should be fine with this.)
Looking at the distributed test papers, it's clear that they're designed to let us get over 60 points, so as long as we do what we were taught, there shouldn't be any problems. Watching Amami-san's mechanical pencil glide smoothly across the paper, it seems like she'll clear the first subject.
"Hueeen, I did it, Umiii~"
"Oh, there, there. Good girl, Yuu, you did great. Let's take down English with that same spirit."
"O-okay~…"
As Amami-san nodded, a single strand of hair, perhaps from a stubborn bedhead, shot out from the side of her head in a strange direction.
"Geez, Yuu. Didn't you set your hair properly this morning?"
"Ehehe~ it's supplementary lessons, but it's still summer vacation, so I actually stayed up a little late."
"You're hopeless… Maki, I'm going to the restroom with Yuu for a bit, so can you go on ahead? We'll be back before English starts."
"Got it. I'll let Yagisawa-sensei know too."
Even though I say not to let our guard down, the retest itself isn't that difficult, so everyone, including the other participants, ends up feeling lazy. Normally, at this time in the morning, the school would be bustling with students everywhere, but the hallways, the courtyard, and even the plaza in front of the cafeteria are all silent. No matter where you look in the school, all you see is the sight of a 'school on a holiday.' It's a strange feeling.
After parting with Umi and the others for a bit, I headed to class 10, where the English supplementary lesson would be held. There's still some time before class starts, so I don't even need to peek through the window to see that no one else is here yet. Or rather, that's to be expected, since the door won't budge an inch when I tried to open it.
"…Maybe the teacher hasn't unlocked it yet."
I thought Yagisawa-sensei would have opened the door and prepared for class by now, but maybe she's running late, or maybe she's just not in the mood… Anyway, if it's not open, it's faster to go to the staff room to get the key and check. Besides, it's painful to stand in the stuffy hallway for a long time.
Fanning myself with a red sheet for my reference book as a makeshift fan, I walked down the hallway leading to the staff room where the teacher would be. Even though it's bright and early in the afternoon, walking down the hallway alone makes me feel very uneasy. The sound of my own footsteps echoing and bouncing back, as if someone is chasing me from behind, is probably a unique characteristic of a large building like a school.
…And to think, what if it were the middle of the night.
"Even if I were alone with Umi, I'd have to pass on a test of courage…"
According to our plans, we're supposed to go to a villa that Nitori-san and Houjou-san's families co-own sometime at the end of July or beginning of August, but according to Umi, there's a shrine at the top of the mountain where the villa is located or something──no, I should stop thinking about this any further.
As I pondered about the future, I arrived in front of the staff room.
"…Phew, alright."
After taking a deep breath, I put my hand on the staff room door. I've had a few occasions to visit the staff room alone since last year's cultural festival, but just thinking about the crowd of adults on the other side takes a certain amount of courage just to enter.
"──Excuse me. Um, Yagisawa-sensei."
"! Oh, ah, Maehara-kun, sorry, sorry. You're here for the classroom key, right? I was about to go too, but I got a sudden phone call."
Looking at Yagisawa-sensei's desk near the entrance, I saw that more than half of it was covered with textbooks, files, and other documents she would probably use in class. Scattered next to the phone were memo pads with scribbled notes in red pen, and it was clear she was flustered before the supplementary lesson.
"Here, the key. I'll try to make it in time for the start of class."
"Understood… You're busy even during summer vacation, huh."
"Well, we're adults, unlike you students… So, if I'm late, I'll leave the rest to you, honor student."
"No, I'd rather not… I'll just let them know you might be late because of an urgent matter."
After giving a slight bow to Yagisawa-sensei, who picked up the receiver to make a call somewhere, I took my classroom key and quickly headed for the exit. There are about ten minutes left until the English supplementary lesson, so Umi, Amami-san, and the other participants are probably waiting by now. Of course, I've already texted Umi that I'm going to get the key.
"Excuse me──whoa,"
"! Whoa… whoa."
The moment I tried to leave the room quickly to get back to Umi, a male student suddenly jumped into my field of vision. He must have been about to enter the staff room just as I was leaving, and we bumped into each other lightly.
"Ah, sorry."
"My apologies… wait, Maehara-kun?"
"Eh?… Oh, if it isn't Ooyama-kun."
In front of me was my classmate, Ooyama-kun. We hadn't had many chances to talk recently, but on second thought, it's a bit strange for us to run into each other at this time and place. I'm here for supplementary lessons, but Ooyama-kun, who is one of the top students in our class, should be on summer vacation. Of course, I've never heard of him being in a club either.
"Ooyama-kun, what are you doing here?"
"I'm here on a little errand… Um, what about you, Maehara-kun?"
"I'm here for supplementary lessons. I don't need to take them, but I'm here to accompany a friend."
"A friend… you mean Amami-san?"
"Yeah."
I briefly explained the situation to Ooyama-kun, who didn't know the details.
…He gave me a puzzled look, as expected, but he seemed to understand somehow.
"I see, so that's what happened. Then it seems I was a step too late."
"? A step… does that mean you also came to get a key from the teacher, Ooyama-kun?"
"That's right… Well, I'm not attending the supplementary lessons, though."
"…You're not attending, but you need a key?"
"Yeah. Well, it's not like we can talk in front of the staff room, so let's talk on our way back."
Following Ooyama-kun's suggestion, I headed back to class 10, where Umi and the others were probably waiting. Come to think of it, this might be the first time I've walked and talked with him outside of the classroom. We occasionally talk in class, but as soon as we step outside, he often disappears from my sight.
"I also came today to accompany a friend. We promised to hang out today for a while, so we were thinking of going to the arcade after the supplementary lessons."
"I see… So, about what you said earlier?"
"Well, the guy who's taking the supplementary lessons told me, 'You're free anyway, so go get it.' It's a common thing when you hang out with people."
"Eh… I see."
None of my 'friends' would give me such a nonsensical order, but I wonder if it happens in some groups. …Even Nitta-san (is it rude to say 'even'?) has never asked me for anything like that. Of course, neither has Nozomu. Ooyama-kun is smiling wryly as if he's used to it, but can that really be called a 'friend' in the true sense of the word?
After giving a noncommittal "hmm" and ending the conversation, we walked in silence to class 10, where the English supplementary lesson would be held. As we went up the stairs and into the hallway, Umi and Amami-san, who had spotted us, approached. Amami-san's bedhead, thanks to Umi's styling, is back to its original neat state.
"Maki, thanks for your hard work. Where's the teacher?"
"She's doing something urgent, so she's on the phone in the staff room right now. She said she'll try to be here on time."
"Oh, I see… Ehehe, if the teacher is doing something urgent, maybe she could take a little longer… ouch."
"Yuu, don't think about slacking off."
"Oka~y. Ehehe."
After receiving a flick on the forehead that was clearly held back, Amami-san's cheeks relaxed into a sloppy smile. She would probably be better off without the supplementary lessons, but she seems happy to be spending time with Umi nonetheless. It's summer vacation, so of course they'll hang out together, but it's certain that there will be fewer opportunities for that compared to last year or the year before.
Kind Amami-san smiles and forgives our selfishness, but she must really want to hang out with Umi and everyone else more, and share many memories. Most people treated our participation in the supplementary lessons as strange, but now I believe it was the right thing to do.
"…Maehara-kun, I seem to be in the way, so I'll be going now."
"Ah, yeah. Um… see you on the next school day, I guess."
"I guess so. Well, you're popular, Maehara-kun, so you probably don't have much time to talk to someone like me."
"…Eh?"
"…Later."
With that, Ooyama-kun suddenly moved away from the three of us as if to avoid us. It was so sudden that my reaction was delayed, but it felt like he said something very sarcastic.
"Hey Umi, what's up with Ooyama-kun? He seemed gloomier than usual."
"Really? It's been a while for me, so I didn't really notice a difference… What about you, Maki?"
"I'm not that close to him either… but was it okay for him to leave without saying anything to his friend?"
Curiosity piqued, I looked at the other students who were taking the supplementary lesson, but none of them seemed to be concerned about Ooyama-kun. Maybe there is someone, but I don't know who. The 'friend' who made him go get the key for their own convenience, yet didn't even thank him… I say it again, but is that really a 'friend'?
After that, the English supplementary lesson began with Yagisawa-sensei, who rushed into the classroom at the last minute. The way the supplementary lessons are conducted is probably left to each subject teacher, because Yagisawa-sensei's class has a much more relaxed atmosphere compared to the Japanese class earlier. Perhaps the teacher also wants everyone to pass with a single retest.
"This part of the sentence, I'm going to put it on the test as is, so make sure you memorize it thoroughly. Of course, I'll change the words, but the sentence structure and stuff will be almost the same."
She even emphasized it by putting a red circle on the blackboard. Of course, it probably won't be all of it, but the questions are probably set up so that you can get a passing grade just by answering the parts she circled in red.
"Ugh, sleepy, hungry…"
"Yuu, we should have lunch after this, so let's hang in there until then, okay?"
"You can do it, Amami-san."
"Nn, I'll do my best…"
And so, as I encouraged Amami-san with Umi, the early morning classes and the boredom of not needing to listen to the lecture because I already understood it were making my eyelids heavy as well. Swallowing a yawn, we somehow finished the first period of the supplementary lesson, left the classroom, and headed to our usual lunch spot.
Since there are few people during summer vacation, we could probably spend our time in places we don't usually go to, like the courtyard, the cafeteria, or the gym, but I personally feel more at ease in our usual spot, and besides, it's nicely shaded, so we can spend our time comfortably without being in an air-conditioned room.
"Wow, Maki-kun, your bento is huge today. Is it for you and Umi to share?"
"Yeah. It's summer vacation, so I thought this would be nice, and Umi and I talked about it last night. I got a little carried away and made too much, so please have some, Amami-san."
"Wow, thank you! Then, I'll gladly take some."
Sitting on the old bench, the three of us dug into the bento packed in a large Tupperware container. It had small, barrel-shaped onigiri, fried chicken, slightly sweet tamagoyaki, leftovers from last night's dinner, and for color, cherry tomatoes and broccoli in the empty spaces.
"Mmm, it's been a while, but I still love your tamagoyaki, Maki-kun. This is good enough to be a main dish on its own."
"Yeah. Hey, Maki, has your cooking gotten even better?"
"You think so? Well, if you do it every day, it just happens naturally."
I woke up about an hour earlier than usual, but seeing the two of them eating so deliciously makes me happy that my hard work paid off.
"Oh, hey, hey, Maki-kun! Since we're at it, have some of mine. My mom made this, but which one do you want?"
"Ah, yeah. Then I'll have the spinach omelet."
"Sure. Here you go."
With that, Amami-san took one of the fan-shaped omelets and placed it on the Tupperware lid that served as a plate──or not, she brought it straight to my mouth.
"…Um, Amami-san?"
"? What's wrong, Maki-kun, here you go."
"Ah, yeah. That's true, but, um, I can eat it myself."
"Eh?… Ah."
It seems Amami-san finally realized it, but if I were to eat the omelet she offered, then she'd be feeding me. Amami-san probably did it in the same way she would when eating with Umi, but even as friends, there are some things you're conscious of with the opposite sex. If it were Umi, it would just be a normal, everyday scene.
Umi's face, as she watched us intently from my side, is a little scary.
"…Yuu, I'll do that."
"S-sorry! That's right, Maki-kun has Umi, and yet, I just went in like usual… ah, ahaha."
After returning the omelet to its original place, Amami-san's face turned beet red as she flusteredly waved her hands. When our friendship first started, Amami-san (I believe) tried not to get too close to me since I was her first male friend, but as we continued to be in the same class and had more opportunities to interact one-on-one, I feel that the psychological barrier between us is gradually thinning. I'm honored that Amami-san trusts me that much, but it's not good for us to get too close.
…Because Umi gets jealous.
"Maki."
"Ah, yes."
"…Aahn."
With that, Umi picked up a piece of fried chicken from the Tupperware and held it out in front of my mouth. Of course, I can eat it myself without being fed, but here, I obediently popped the fried chicken into my mouth as Umi wished.
"…"
"Wh-what is it, Umi, silently staring at me?"
"Your thoughts?"
"My thoughts… you mean the taste?"
"Now, I wonder?"
I knew it the moment Amami-san tried to feed me, but it seems Umi is not in a good mood. If you try to please one, you can't please the other… From the outside, it must be an enviably blissful situation with Amami-san and Umi, a flower in each hand, but personally, it's complicated.
"I made it myself, so of course it tastes good, but I'm also happy to be fed by you, Umi. Though it's embarrassing to have Amami-san watch us so intently."
"Hmph. Here, next is this one."
"Are… are we still continuing this?"
"Of course, until I'm satisfied… Is that okay?"
"Yes."
And so, my lunch from that point on consisted of a continuous 'aahn' attack from my girlfriend until the bento was empty. By the time lunch was over and Umi's mood had finally improved, I found myself slightly regretting having gotten carried away and made too much since the morning.
"Phew, that was delicious… Um, we still have about thirty minutes before lunch ends, what do you two want to do? Go back to the classroom early and get ready for class?"
"I'm fine either way. What about you, Yuu?"
"…"
"Yuu? Are you listening?"
"…suu."
"Amami-san's asleep."
"Yeah. Well, she's been working hard all morning."
Perhaps she got sleepy while relaxing with a cold tea, Amami-san, who was leaning heavily against Umi, was now fast asleep, breathing softly.
"I guess we have no choice, let's let her nap here until the last minute. You can lean on me too if you're sleepy, Maki. I'll wake you up when it's time."
"No, I'm fine… But can I just cuddle up a little?"
"Fufu, you clingy boy, Maki… Here, come here."
"Yeah."
Moving right next to Umi so that our waists were touching, I placed my hand on top of hers. It's hot to be this close in this season, but I'd rather be stuck to her like this than be apart from her. It might be a slightly perverted thought, but I love everything about Umi, any scent, even her sweat, as long as it's hers. I'm also the type to sweat a lot, and even now, there's a thin layer of sweat on my neck, but Umi doesn't seem to mind at all as she brought her face closer to mine, sniffing.
"Maki, you smell like sweat."
"Sorry, Umi… Um, can I let go for a second to wipe it with a handkerchief?"
"No. I like it like this."
"If you say so, Umi, then it's fine."
As if drawn to each other, the two of us sniffed each other's scents. Normally, we wouldn't do this at school, but it was so quiet around us, and Amami-san next to us showed no signs of waking up, so we thought it would be okay for just a little while.
"Umi, sorry, can I really sleep for a little while?"
"Go ahead. I'm getting sleepy too, so why don't we all just sleep? If we set an alarm, it'll probably be fine."
"…And then the three of us oversleep and get scolded by the teacher."
"Ahaha, that's possible. Well, we'll cross that bridge when we come to it."
"Yeah."
And so, Umi and I wrapped our arms around each other's waists, snuggled closer, and slowly closed our eyes. Being full after lunch and the surprisingly cool breeze blowing through the school buildings made drowsiness wash over us in an instant.
"Nn…"
"suu…"
"funyaa…"
Each with a different breathing pattern, the three of us entered a brief moment of rest. In the end, it was only a nap of a few dozen minutes, but by the time the alarm went off and we woke up, all our fatigue had vanished somewhere. By the way, Amami-san didn't wake up, so I'll secretly add here that the two of us worked together to somehow carry her to the classroom.
As for the supplementary lessons, thanks to my and Umi's efforts (?), there was no need for a re-retest, and Amami-san was finally able to officially start her summer vacation.
Well, her score was pretty close to the wire, though.